From Sound Transit: http://www.soundtransit.org/x11146.xml Part of the Federal Stimulus money will be used to extend the Sounder system from downtown Tacoma to Lakewood. This is a long delayed project that should be finished ASAP. Ben
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr104hoodcanalbridgeeast/ Will be closed for 6 weeks to replace the Eastern half. This is the longest floating bridge in the world that spans salt water. Ben
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2009069602_webhighspeedrail16.html Obama puts 8 billion towards developing high speed rail corridors. In the Northwest it will benefit the Eugene to Vancouver BC route, allowing the Amtrak Cascades to run closer to its 110 mph design speed. More: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/712047.html
From The News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/721612.html While as noted in the article this is no longer a major corridor, it will allow some alternate routes from Northeast Tacoma into town, and finally allow the Tacoma Fire station at the bridge easy access to Northeast Tacoma. Ben
The News Tribune had an interesting article recently about this project: http://www.thenewstribune.com/topstory/story/718337.html
From KIRO: http://www.kirotv.com/news/19275966/detail.html#- Hmm, so this is now the second incident with this line. Hopefully the community learns to live with the trains before they begin service in July.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/topstories/story/716425.html Lakewood is using a DOD grant to study ways to solve traffic congestion through Fort Lewis, which can be pretty bad, especially on weekends.
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2009/04/20/vancouver_clark_county_would_get_its_own Basically, Vancouver, WA could form their own taxing district to invest in transit and transportation. This could include new I-5 bridges across the Coulmbia and light rail. As others have noted however, it is very easy to cross the river to Portland, OR, and not pay any sales tax…
From The Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009064531_weblightrail15m.html Sound Transit Link train in the Rainier Valley was hit by a car that turned left into it More: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/43142277.html
From SDOT: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/parking/lightrailparking.htm Restricted parkiong zones will be set up around the stations to limit commuters parking in the surrounding neighborhoods.